Week of February 16th

No school on Monday the 16th - enjoy the three day weekend!

Tuesday 2-17 the ROUGH draft of the Autobiography paper is due - rubric on class website (link under helpful links)

Thursday 2-19 Act 4 worksheet due

Friday 2-20 Vocabulary Quiz Lesson 16

We'll read Macbeth in class...our Act 2 quiz will be the day AFTER we finish the act...this is the policy for the entire play. A project/test will be at the conclusion of the play. We front loaded reading Macbeth in the beginning of the month so that you would have time to also "dig in" and read your OR book on nights when you have less work. REMEMBER you always have OR to read if you have not turned in your project...perhaps budget a few pages a night.

Due Friday 2-13-09

Truth is Stranger than Fiction creative story...turn in rough and final draft. If you miss class due to Grandparent's Day your work STILL MUST Be turned in ... drop it by before school so you do not forget!

Macbeth Act 1 Update

Blocks 4 and 5 completed reading ACT 1 today...the quiz will be tomorrow, Wed 2-10-09. Block 3 has a page or two left...quiz will be Thursday 2-11-09.

Semester 2 Papers

Paper #1 Autobiography
Rough Draft due Tuesday 2-17-09
Final Draft Due Tuesday March 17th (St. Patrick's Day!)

Paper #2 Resume/Cover Letter
Rough Draft Due Tuesday 4-7-09
Final Draft due Tuesday 5-5-09

Visit the NEW Class website (linked on blog also) for the documents - attached. I'll use the website for documents and this for explanations.

Online Version of Macbeth

http://library.thinkquest.org/2888/

There are free downloads of audio versions of the book - you may wish to listen at home as you read. WE WILL read ALOUD in class.

First day in the books!

One day down, the rest of the semester to go! Thanks for helping get the semester started on a good note!

Homework tonight:
1. write down all assignments (so far posted) in your planner
2. NOTE 1st vocabulary lesson will be lesson 15 - next week - quiz will be THURSDAY 2-12-09 as Friday the 13th is Grandparent's Day at school
3. Outside Reading Book #1 needs to be approved by tomorrow.

Only block 3 got to the writing prompt...no need to do that for homework...we'll start with the tomorrow.

I'll have the semester gradebook set up by the end of the week...you can start to check your grades online this weekend...

A few reminders for a successful semester:
1. always do your homework - come to tutoring in the morning to see if you did it correctly if you are needing extra help
2. always write down assignments WHEN THEY ARE POSTED...the goal is to give you notice...add the future dates into your planner! BUY a planner if you do not have one!
3. stay organized...your binder needs to have the syllabus in front and a section for vocab, grammar and literature. writing prompts that are grammar related will go in grammar, others will go behind your syllabus
4. daily trivia has always been an option...it is an opportunity for an extra point EVEY day...take advantage - I DO NOT round grades at the end of the semester because of this continuous "perk".

Macbeth Assignments

Happy New Year to everyone! Enjoy Intersession this month.

We'll start Macbeth the week we return to school. Tuesday February 3rd bring Macbeth to class as well as your vocabulary and grammar books.

Below is the guideline for the Macbeth unit. Please write the assignments down in your planner as a backup in the event you are unable to access a computer to get the details...when you want/need them.

Procedure:

• We will read Macbeth at home (one ACT at a time) and complete a study guide
• We'll read the act in class (students will be given parts)
• We'll have a quiz on the act (the day after it is finished in class...this is your announcement of each quiz)
• A test will follow the completion of the book (The Monday after we finish the book in class)
  

Complete Macbeth Study Guide located here
Act 1: read/complete reading guide by Thursday 2-5-09
Act 2: read/complete reading guide by Tuesday 2-10-09
Act 3: read/complete reading guide by Thursday 2-12-09
Act 4: read/complete reading guide by Thursday 2-19-09
Act 5: read/complete reading guide by Tuesday 2-24-09

Remember all work you turn in must be your own. If you are confused with the Shakespeare, visit me during my tutoring hours (starting at 7 each day or by appointment).

The book looks longer than it really is...one page is the text and the page next to it is notes/translations. For example...what you have to read in ACT 1 is actually 19 pages...the notes are for assistance as needed. TAKE NOTES ON QUESTIONS you have while ACTIVE READING. We'll discuss in class!

Final Exam grades

Grades posted Friday. Outside Reading information in previous post. Will put up a Macbeth study guide the first week of January.

Merry Christmas...Happy New Year!

Semester 2 Outside Reading

Attached is the information for Semester 2 Outside Reading. Free Choice Rubric attached here. Typo on Free Choice Rubric...Bio Poem is required even though it mentions Biography. BOTH choices have same assignment.

Bring to class the first day of Semester 2 your grammar and vocabulary books along with Macbeth (and your binder of course).

Homework over the weekend and Final Exam essay q's

Final Exam Q's

Grammar Review Homework...
Worksheets: Do ONLY Part A's...each page
BOOK: Page ____ Assignment ___
79 do 8-10
85 do 1-3
86 (A) do 1-6
87 do all
37 do all
33 do all

Change...

grammar quiz moved to Monday...tomorrow BNW paper is due along with the Vocabulary Test

Filed Trip Today...I was out...

The Norton Simon Museum was amazing! Sorry that I could not watch BNW with you today. You have a few minutes left according to the notes from the sub. Your response will be due FRIDAY...it will be a paper grade...needs to be well written with concrete examples from the book and the movie, generalities will result in a zero.

Friday we'll have our Vocab Test...8-14 with emphasis on 13 and 14
Friday a grammar quiz also...and a binder check for those whose binder has not been seen.

If you owe me $ or Plastic Sheep Protectors (PSP's) please reimburse me this week

After your final if you wish to donate any of the novels from this semester, please bring them to my room.

Don't forget...final essays will be posted here on Friday.

TRIVIA for today...due Thursday in class...what sport has an annual world champioship that features events like boom running, double bucking and pole climbing?

Last week of classes

Trivia: What artist created this image? Hint: Abstract Expressionism. Answer due Monday 12/8

Due Monday 12/8
Vocabulary Lesson 13/14 Words and Definitions and paragraph 1 pages 146 and 157

In class Monday we'll correct vocabulary quiz lessons 11/12 and discuss SIA and placement of modifiers

Tuesday-Thursday we'll discuss vocabulary/placement of modifiers and watch the Brave New World video. After video concludes Thursday, a response paper is to be written. Students will have paper for taking notes while watching video.

Friday 12/12/08 Vocabulary TEST lessons 8-14 and grammar quiz - placement of modifiers

Final Exam - Tuesday 12/16/08 at 8:30 am
Block 3 in room 225
Block 4 with me in normal classroom
Block 5 in room 229
Bring to your exam pencils, erasers and pens.

The rest of the semester...it's drawing to a close. Upcoming Deadlines...

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving Break! See you on Tuesday 12-2-08!

Papers will be passed back next week - all binders need to be organized. The better organized you are the easier it is to find materials you need to study for your final. Binder checks will occur on 12/5/08 (for a homework grade). Reminder - binder needs to have syllabus as page 1 and sections for vocabulary, grammar and literature. ALL papers are to be kept until Semester 2. Day one of semester 2 we'll have a "recycle day" where we clean our binders of papers I know we will not need for semester 2.

Due Wednesday 12-3 - complete SIA. Worksheet is attached. Discussion guide is on same WS. Prepare for discussion.



Due Thursday 12-4 Vocabulary sentences and illustrations for lessons 11-12. Use all 30 words in sentences (underlined) proving understanding of the word's meaning. Illustrate 5 of the sentences.

Final Exam Study Guide - final exam is Tuesday 12-16-08. Review Worksheet.

Friday 12/5 we'll have a vocabulary quiz (lessons 11 and 12) and Friday 12/12 we'll have a vocabulary test covering lessons 8-14 (no vocab on the final)

The week of 12/8 we'll have a grammar quiz on placement of modifiers (verb phrases continued)

The week of finals I'll post OR for Semester 2...you can get a head start of you wish. Deadlines will be roughly the first week of March and the first week of May. Books will need to be approved by me via email (renemacvay@yahoo.com or rmacvay@sahs.org) in order for the OR to be graded.

Deadlines for Thanksgiving Week...and beyond

Remember your paper final draft is due Monday 11-24. Turn a copy in to turnitin.com and bring hard copy attached to ALL rough drafts to class on Monday.

Monday 10-12 SIA is due...worksheet on post from earlier this week.

Rest of SIA due 12-3-08 ... the Wednesday after break. WS to be attached.

Homework for Quiz Review...

To review for the quizzes...

Grammar exercises due Thursday October 19th:
Block 3 page 76 #'s 6-10
Block 4 page 609 #'s 5-10
Block 5 page 76 #'s 1,3 exercise B and 1-3 page 609

Vocabulary Due Friday:
For all 15 vocabulary words, use each in an original sentence. Underline the word as it is used in the sentence. Then illustrate/draw a picture (cut out an image) to help you remember the word (do 5 images). DO NOT try to turn in sloppy work...if your drawing requires a straight line, use a ruler.

November 18th

Complete SIA chapter 8 for Wed and 9 for Thursday

Block 3: page 608 Gerunds - evens
Block 4: page 608 Gerunds - odds
Block 5 page 74 A 6-10 and B 2,3

Week of November 17th

Survival in Auschwitz - active read and answer questions through Chapter 7 by MONDAY 11-17-08

Grammar Homework - due 11-18
Block 1 complete grammar book :
Block 3: even #'s page 608 participles
Block 4: odd #'s page 608 participles
Block 5: page 72 B 1,3 and page 608 participles 1-5

Vocabulary Quiz Lesson 10 on Friday as well as grammar quiz on verb phrases and punctuation

Survival in Auschwitz Read/Answer Questions. WS for 8-12
Chapters 8-9 by Wednesday 11-19
Chapters 10-12 by Monday 11-24
**Book completion over Thanksgiving break. WS to be attached next weekend.

Paper final draft due 11-24 OR your last day before Thanksgiving vacation. Paper MUST be uploaded to turnitin.com and turned in to me with ALL drafts. Failure to turn in drafts and upload to turnitin.com will result in my inability to grade your paper as a final draft.

Week of November 10th

Enjoy Monday off!

Tuesday OR #2 is due. Tuesday You'll get back your vocabulary quizzes - corrections due Wednesday.

We'll start a grammar unit on verb phrases and punctuation (underline, quotes, etc) with a quiz this Friday and next.

We'll have a vocabulary quiz on lesson 10 NEXT Friday...11-21-08.

Survival in Auschwitz...active read...a quiz can happen any day.
Read up to and including chapter 3 by Wednesday 11-12-08
Read up to and including chapter 7 by Monday 11-17-08
Reading WS covers all 7 chapters (definitions to be done for Wed 11-12-08)

REMEMBER...if you need to go to tutoring for your paper draft # 2 you need to do so this week and bring your paper to me by Friday 11-14-08. Final copy is due 11-24-08 OR earlier if your family is taking off for the Thanksgiving holiday sooner.

Week of November 3rd

This week we'll do small group activities the days of retreat. We'll make changes to the vocabulary tests (answer key was incorrect) and also start a new vocabulary lesson.

Bring to class all week BNW, vocabulary book and Survival in Auschwitz.
(Wednesday we are scheduled for a library orientation - meet in class then head to the library.)

Friday we'll have a quiz on vocabulary lesson 9 and have a grammar quiz on verb phrases.

Paper drafts will be returned. Some drafts have a date for a second submission - those must be turned in to me along with the first draft on given due date. Some drafts have tutoring written on them. Students who did not have a clear thesis are required to attend the English Department tutoring one day this week to get peer assistance (Room 323). Tutoring times are T-W-Th 7-7:30 and Th 2-3 pm. Students MUST bring back drafts to me after they meet with peer tutors so that I can review them prior to the final draft being turned in. Deadline for meeting with peer tutors and bringing draft to me: November 14th.

OUTSIDE READING #2 IS DUE TUESDAY 11-11-08